In my wanderings around DG, I've been running into comments about Mirabilis Jalapa (Four O'Clocks) killing off Japanese Beetles. The MJ are highly toxic and evidently the glutinous JBs will attack it like any other plant. I was thinking that if these were strategically placed in the garden, it might save some of the lilies where the JBs are running rampant.
I have four of these in pots this year, and have really enjoyed them. The foliage is attractive, but the blooms don't open until around 6:00 p.m. for me. They have a wonderful fragrance. I just made a trade for 3 more tubers and think I'll place them here and there among the lilies next year (in pots again). I understand they can take part shade as well as full sun and are prolific seeders that can become invasive if not properly controlled.
Any thoughts, pro or con, about whether something like this might help? We don't have the JB here yet, but I think it is only a matter of time.
Japanese Beetles and Mirabilis Jalapa
I also just found this thread that has some interesting info on controlling JBs.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/435271/
I don't know anything about whether they are toxic to Japanese beetles but I do wonder if they would be invasive in Zone a. Seems like they would freeze out. Different story here-- they grow like weeds. I have them along the west side of my house and the seeds come up everywhere in the area. Even in the middle of my daylilies! I swear the tubers go to China! I wacked them all down this spring and hit them with roundup and they just came back better than ever! I do love the fragrance though. I'll try to get a pic tomorrow if I can catch them with open blossoms.
I'm going to be planting them out by my wild grapes next year. I went out earlier this month and there was a cloud of Japanese Beetles all over them. I resorted to Seven. Haven't seen nearly as many JB's. If it works then I'll be really happy. :) Hopefully, it will kill off these other pesky little nasties, the adult form of northern corn root worm. At least, I think that is what they are. They are actually worse for me than JB's.
Diann
I planted my Mirabelis in pots because they aren't hardy for my zone and I had read they are difficult to dig once planted. Did you see the comments about white geraniums? Need to look into that as well. By accident I stumbled upon that thread. I meant to go to the Perennials forum and clicked on Organic Gardening by mistake. Will have to keep an eye on that one.
Ticker, if you want some seed, I'll have the yellow with the red stamens and the yellow and white bicolor.
Thanks for the offer Beaker. I may take you up on that next spring. :)
Diann